Amazing Shake

What is the Amazing Shake?

The Grosse Pointe Academy hosted its inaugural Amazing Shake competition in 2024. Over 85 middle school students experienced numerous tests and challenges as they interacted with community professionals from local businesses.

Originally created by the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, The Amazing Shake is a competition that places an emphasis on teaching students manners, discipline, respect, and professional conduct.

Prior to the competition, middle school students learned the nuances of professional human interaction as part of their curriculum and are taught skills such as how to give a proper handshake, how to network, how to give a successful interview, and how to remain composed under pressure.

The first round, dubbed "The Gauntlet," was an obstacle course of 20 stations of real-life scenarios, where students had 60 seconds to provide their best display of professional tact with the hope of earning respectable scores from the community judges. 

The second round of the competition saw the students navigate through The Shakedown (top 40), Work the Room with the judges (top 20), and a vigorous Debate (top 10). The top 10 students  participated in the Michigan Regional Amazing Shake Competition in Pontiac, MI.

The top 5 students advanced to the final round where the finalists presented new dipping sauce ideas for the Detroit Wing Company (DWC). The top 2 finalists had their winning sauces featured in DWC's Mack Avenue location in Grosse Pointe Farms. 

The top two finalists participated in a mock Job Interview for a NASA Public Relations Internship position. The #1 student was named GPA 2024 Amazing Shake Competition Champion!